Rep. Eric Cantor says 'no' to honoring sports champions

Rep. Eric Cantor, the incoming House majority leader, has a long to-do list for the new GOP-led House that's topped by a desire to cut spending and taxes.

Resolutions honoring sports teams are also on his list of cuts.

In an op-ed Monday for AOL News, the Virginia Republican wrote: "The Republicans who make up our new majority did not run for Congress to provide a subsidy to a particular industry or interest...or to spend our time congratulating collegiate basketball teams for having a good season -- even if we happened to be a fan."

Congress routinely votes on measures honoring sports teams and athletes. Today, when the House convenes for its second day of a lame-duck session, lawmakers will consider resolutions honoring the late New York Yankees announcer Bob Sheppard (H Res 1529) and a draft bill congratulating Penn State football coach Joe Paterno on his 400th win.

Boycotting sports resolutions in Congress has been a tradition for some.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, who played football for BYU, told FoxNews.com earlier this year: "It finally just got to be enough. It's absurd." So he votes "present" on these sports resolutions, meaning Chaffetz is on record that he's there in the House chamber but not saying "yes" or "no" to the legislation.

Voting "present" on sports resolutions has been around for a while. Democrats Peter DeFazio of Oregon and Jim Oberstar of Wisconsin are among those who don't want to spend House time on these matters.

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About Catalina Camia

Catalina Camia leads the OnPolitics online community and has been at USA TODAY since 2005. She has been a reporter or editor covering politics and Congress for two decades, including stints at The Dallas Morning News and Congressional Quarterly. Follow her at @USATOnPolitics.